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NYC Drummer/Composer, USC Alumnus Matt Slocum Announces West Coast Tour - March 11-15

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NYC Drummer/Composer, USC Alumnus MATT SLOCUM Announces West Coast Tour - March 11-15. Featuring Josh Nelson (Seamus Blake, Matt Wilson, Natalie Cole) & Massimo Biolcati (Ravi Coltrane, Lionel Loueke, Terence Blanchard). In celebration of Slocum's debut CD, PORTRAITS - Available NOW!

“Very impressive . . . A smoking drummer with plenty of taste . . . Highly recommended."
 - Brick Wahl, LA Weekly

“It's a thrill to hear Matt's creativity, artistic diversity and sound statements on this wonderful outing of his.  I take personal pride in watching his amazing growth, having observed him since his college years.  Matt has big ears, huge talent and always plays the sensitivity that everyone experiences in his personality." - John Clayton

Matt Slocum - Portraits - West Coast Tour
Thursday, March 11 @ 7 PM - Jazz at the Crowne
with Josh Nelson (piano), Dan Lutz (bass)
Crowne Plaza LAX, 5985 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA,
www.in-housemusic.com, Tel 310 258 1333

Friday, March 12 @ 8 PM - Caf Metropol
with Josh Nelson (piano), Dan Lutz (bass)
923 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA, www.cafemetropol.com, Tel 213 613 1537

Sunday, March 14 @ 4:30 PM - Bach Dancing and Dynamite Jazz Series

With Josh Nelson (piano), Massimo Biolcati (bass)
Douglas Beach House, 311 Mirada Road, Half Moon Bay, CA, www.bachddsoc.org, Tel 650 726 4143

Monday, March 15 @ 7:30 PM - Cuesta College Performing Arts Center

Plus FREE 11 AM clinic with Josh Nelson (piano), Massimo Biolcati (bass)

Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo Campus, Performing Arts Center- Main Stage San Luis Obispo, CA, cuesta.edu, Tel 805 546 3198


Award winning drummer/composer Matt Slocum is an artist featured on more than twenty albums and film scores, and has performed and/or recorded with many stellar artists coast to coast, including Shelly Berg, Seamus Blake, Alan Broadbent, Bill Cunliffe, Larry Koonse, Wynton Marsalis, Alan Pasqua, Bob Sheppard, Anthony Wilson, Darek Oles and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  On January 19, 2010, Chandra Records proudly released his debut recording, Portraits, which showcases eight original compositions, as well as Billy Strayhorn's “Daydream", and establishes Matt Slocum as a double-threat artist of considerable depth and talent.  This March, the New York based drummer, who graduated from USC where he studied extensively with Peter Erskine, John Clayton and Alan Pasqua, brings his trio to the West Coast in support and celebration of his debut recording under his own name. 

“An awesome trio ... expresses the drummer's swinging, slightly non-mainstream leanings with exceptional mates." - Greg Burk (Critic's pick- metaljazz.com)

Matt Slocum, recently awarded a Meet The Composer Foundation grant for the music on Portraits, is a propulsive, melodic and dynamic accompanist and soloist, as well as a lyrical composer possessing the ability to craft tunes that provide an inspiring format for the musicians and listener alike.  Portraits features a group comprised of some of the most innovative musicians on the New York scene, Matt Slocum (drums, compositions), Gerald Clayton (piano), Walter Smith III (tenor saxophone, #s 1, 3), Jaleel Shaw (alto saxophone, #6), Dayna Stephens (tenor saxophone, #s 6, 8) and Massimo Biolcati (bass).  “With this band there is a great deal of compositional freedom; these gentlemen can really swing, but they also excel in more open formats, as well as playing different meters, moods and colors.  They are informed by the tradition, yet each has remained open and used this immersion in the lineage as a tool to move forward and develop a very distinctive and original musical voice," said Slocum.  The leader/composer takes full advantage of these musicians' gifts by exploring a variety of sonic landscapes with them; from saxophone trio and piano trio, to quartets and quintets.

Portraits “is the fulfillment of a dream to document this music with this group.  But in many ways it is only the start of the playing and compositional discovery process.  I want to stay open and continue exploring music together," Matt Slocum.


“Love the CD! Just listening to it puts me in a good mood. Excellent writing and playing and the vibe is right, I really like it." - Darek Oles

“Matt 'gets' Philly Joe Jones and Roy Haynes as good as any other drummer I know, and has managed to infuse his drumming with his own style - the man has found his drumming voice, and at an early age!  Talent and hard work.  Matt was always one of my favorite students at USC.  Matt's jazz credentials seem to be in order.  Names and university degrees don't say it all, however.  The bottom line qualification for any jazz endeavor is that the music has to swing.  This record swings." - Peter Erskine

“Matt Slocum has created a very good CD here.  The playing is top notch, and Matt's compositions are very engaging.  I recommend!!!" - Alan Pasqua



More on Matt Slocum:  Drummer/composer Matt Slocum works extensively with many of the finest artists in contemporary improvised music.  He is regarded as a musical drummer with a deep understanding of the jazz tradition and a fresh, creative, compositional approach.

Originally from New Richmond, Wisconsin, Matt started piano lessons at age 9 and began playing the drums at 11.  While in high school he was introduced to the music of Max Roach and Philly Joe Jones.  Slocum received a full scholarship to attend the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California where he studied performance and composition with Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, John Clayton and Shelly Berg.

In May 2004 Matt graduated from USC and developed into one of the more in demand creative musicians on the West Coast.  In fall 2007 he moved to New York to expand his musical horizons.

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